Opinion: Sorrow and frustration for U.S. Muslims

Pakistani students protest against the controversial film "Innocence of Muslims" in Islamabad on Sept. 25, 2012. Habeeb and Seemi Ahmed write that Muslims should follow the example of the Prophet Muhammad "in all aspects of their lives, not only when it suits them." Photo Credit: Getty FAROOQ NAEEM

Global leaders have gathered for the annual UN General Assembly this week, while the world continues to reel from the recent violence in the Middle East. We are horrified by the response of the Muslim community to the inflammatory movie against Islam and our beloved Prophet Muhammad. Words cannot express the sadness, frustration and helplessness we feel at the loss of so many innocent lives, property and the unnecessary violence.

As it is, the anti-Western feelings in the Muslim world in general and in the Middle East, Indian subcontinent and Africa in particular remain heightened all the time because of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the drone attacks that kill innocent civilians along with a few extremists. And there is resentment against the United States for its support, over many decades, of despots such as Hosni Mubarak and even Saddam Hussein.

While we unequivocally condemn the unreasonable reactions of Muslims, the question remains: What prompted this extreme reaction from Muslims around the world?

Prophet Muhammad is the ultimate example and reference point for Muslims in every aspect of our lives; as the Quran explains, he is "dearer to them than their own selves." According to the Quran, all prophets -- including Abraham, Isaac, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad -- were sent by God almighty as messengers who taught us how to connect with God. Muslims should, therefore, seek to emulate the Prophet in all aspects of their lives, and not only when it suits them.

Muhammad was persecuted, harassed and abused many times during his prophethood. He consistently reacted in the most kind, compassionate, forgiving and merciful manner. That's why the Quran refers to him as "the mercy to mankind." He always encouraged dialogue over confrontation and intellect over violence when dealing with provocation and evil mischief. This is the model that Muslims should follow.

A couple of examples from his lifetime are instructive: Once at his mosque in Medina, a Bedouin came inside and urinated. The Prophet's companions were upset and started scolding him, but Muhammad stopped them. Later, he approached the man and very kindly explained to him that this was a place of worship and it should be respected as such.

Another example is about an old woman who threw garbage on him on a daily basis when he passed by. One day this did not happen, and when he inquired, he was told that she was ill. Muhammad immediately visited her and wished her well. There are numerous examples like these of his kindness and generosity.

Freedom of expression -- a constitutional right enjoyed by us Americans -- comes with a certain responsibility. We cannot go into a crowded movie theater and yell "Fire!" because the consequences could be devastating. While we do not share the view, expressed by delegations to the UN from major Muslim nations, that international curbs on speech are needed, we do wonder what the purpose was of making a movie that was clearly intended not only to offend 1.6 billion people, but to create conflict and violence. Were the potentially devastating consequences -- more than 50 people have died so far -- considered? Shouldn't they have been?

Islam and Muslims today have become the scapegoat for hate-peddling and fear-mongering, and not only by certain politicians, including former presidential hopefuls Michele Bachmann and Newt Gingrich. The report "Fear Inc.: The Roots of the Islamophobia Network in America," released by the Washington think tank the Center for American Progress, last year, names numerous foundations and individuals who have made spreading a fear of Islam their primary job. These so-called experts on Islam travel the country and work with or testify before state legislatures, calling for a ban on the nonexistent threat of Shariah law in America, and proclaiming that most of the mosques in this country harbor Islamic terrorists or sympathizers.

The violent reaction to the film is being manipulated by extremist factions and corrupt governments to increase their base. So we appeal to Muslim leaders to denounce violence and educate the masses on the true teachings of the Quran and about the life and practices of Prophet Muhammad. But we also appeal to leaders of all faith groups and cultures to speak up and condemn actions that are clearly designed to offend and inflame any group of people.

Habeeb Ahmed is a human rights commissioner for Nassau County and first vice president of the Islamic Center of Long Island. Seemi Ahmed, a member of the board of trustees of the center, is Muslim chaplain at Hofstra University.